Amanda Bynes' lawyer has been granted a continuance in her driving under the influence (DUI) case in Los Angeles as the actress is close to striking a plea deal to avoid a stint in jail.

The embattled star was slapped with the charge after allegedly crashing her black BMW into a police car in April, 2012.

She pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanour and was expected to head to trial over the accusation, but she looks set to escape a possible six-month sentence by working out an agreement with prosecutors.

One of her lawyers, Bob Wilson, appeared in a California courtroom on Thursday to request more time to hammer out the deal, and his motion was approved.

Her lead defence lawyer, Richard Hutton, tells the New York Daily News, "We just need to talk to the prosecutor on a couple more details and we should be good."

The hearing will now continue on August 22.

The DUI charge is one of three legal issues facing the Hairspray star - she is fighting a charge of driving on a suspended licence dating back to an arrest in California in September, 2012, while in her adopted home of New York. She is also accused of reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and marijuana possession after reportedly throwing a bong out of her apartment window as police raided her home in May.